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University of Iowa joins NSF I-Corps Hub

September 21, 2022

The University of Iowa is joining the NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region as a partner institution.

On Sept. 8, the National Science Foundation announced the expansion of the National Innovation Network. This included several new hubs across the country and the addition of partner institutions to existing hubs, including the University of Iowa to the Great Lakes Hub.

Previously, the University of Iowa offered I-Corps programming as an I-Corps site. Since 2015, 182 I-Corps teams have been trained, with 11 going on to the National NSF I-Corps Teams program. Now, the university will join the hub and collaborate more closely with other hub institutions.

“We are excited for this new partnership with the Great Lakes I-Corps Hub and are confident that it will accelerate technology commercialization efforts at the University of Iowa,” said Lynn Allendorf, Director of Iowa JPEC in a news release.

The first five I-Corps Hubs were awarded in 2021, and each is expanding its reach this year by adding a new partner institution. The University of Iowa will join 10 existing university partners in the Great Lakes Hub, including Iowa State University.

“The NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region is delighted to have the University of Iowa join us. By including the University of Iowa’s world-class research and talent, we will enhance our ability to create economic and societal impact from the ingenuity of Iowa’s scientific community,” said Jonathan Fay, Hub Director, NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region.

Tags: i-corps university of iowa

University of Iowa joins NSF I-Corps Hub | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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